As the big day approaches, here's a quick guide to some of the best Spectacularly Delicious Thanksgiving-appropriate recipes. Make them yourself or assign them to the "Is there anything I can bring?" Less work for daddy and happiness all around. Start out with the new Brussels Sprouts Hash with Bacon recipe. Even if you can't get to a fresh … [Read more...]
A SPECTACULAR CELEBRATION OF POMEGRANATES!
I happily accepted POM Wonderful's invitation to host an all-things-pomegranate dinner party. And what do you know? In short order an enormous box of the brightest fresh fruits arrived at our door. Now it was up to us: we needed to dazzle them with new recipes, fabulous decor and fun times. No sweat. That's the way we roll at … [Read more...]
POMEGRANATE SWIRL ICE CREAM WITH CARAMELIZED PISTACHIOS
The signature Spectacularly Delicious ice cream recipe is Tonka Bean. It is like vanilla on steroids -- fragrant, flavorful yet pure and deceptively simple. Divine on its own and also the perfect foundation for further embellishments. For this recipe for Pomegranate Swirl Ice Cream with Caramelized Pistachios, I started with the basic tonka ice cream recipe posted earlier. But … [Read more...]
ALMOND CREPES WITH PEACHES AND CREAM: GLUTEN FREE RECIPE
Being something of a hedonist, or more accurately a bloated pleasure-seeker, I reflexively recoil from foods that wear their healthy virtues on their sleeves. So a recipe for gluten free almond crêpes might not immediately catch my eye. Just to be clear: when the virtue has a direct impact on flavor and enjoyment, count me in. By all means, … [Read more...]
SABLEUSE AUX FRUITS
Though this recipe for sableuse runs the risk of being filed under "Coals to Newcastle," it is decadent sophistication on a dessert plate, so heck, why not present it under the Culinarium dateline? For those not yet following along, the Culinarium is House Beautiful's first-ever SF Design Center culinary event with a … [Read more...]
LEMON CREPES
Location: Seattle. Occasion: International Food Blogger Conference Most Delicious Thing: Tough call, but certainly the Lemon Crepes from Anita's Crepes food cart are right up there. This recipe for Lemon Crepes is a real winner and happily, not too tough to turn out. Anita, steady at the helm of her portable cart while an eager and … [Read more...]
TONKA BEAN ICE CREAM WITH ALMOND BRITTLE: A SPECTACULARLY DELICIOUS ORIGINAL GOURMET RECIPE
Ever since being introduced to tonka beans at Paule Caillat's Promenades Gourmandes, I've been championing them at home and here on S.D. To me, they're the Lambada of the spice world -- sexy, exotic and forbidden. Tonkas have gotten the green light in France and numerous other enlightened nations, but our FDA gives them a thumbs down. Coumarin … [Read more...]
ORANGE-COCONUT AND BLUEBERRY ICE CREAM CUPS WITH LOBSTER SUGAR COOKIES
Hope you like the picture because this is pretty much it. When the gang from work came out this summer I made orange ice cream cups, only this time with home-made orange-coconut ice cream and blueberry ice cream with a swirl of zesty blueberry strawberry jam. Then sugar cookies, dough tinted with food color, and sprinkled with crimson decorating sugar. So this is … [Read more...]
SCRIPTURE CAKE
At the risk of getting ahead of myself, the garnish for this slice of Scripture Cake is straight from the Good Book: "And she gave the King one hundred and twenty talents of gold, spices in great abundance, and precious stones." (2-Chronicles 9:9) So let's rewind a bit. Steve brought home a pile of vintage church cookbooks. Scripture Cake turned up in … [Read more...]
TARTLETTES AVEC PISTACHE ET CARAMEL A LA ANTONIN CAREME
This recipe had a starring role at the Kitchen of the Year in Rockefeller Center this summer! Click for video. For a real mind-blowing read don't miss Cooking for Kings: Antonin Carême, The Life of the First Celebrity Chef by Ian Kelly. It takes you on a mind-blowing journey back in time to the dizzying heights of extraordinary cuisine of the early 19th … [Read more...]